Lordosis

Lordosis is an anatomical condition which exists in the lumbar or cervical spines of affected patients. Normal human spines demonstrate typical lordotic curvature. These curves are necessary to help distribute weight and shock throughout the spinal column. In hyper-lordotic patients, these curves are mildly or greatly exaggerated. Normally, this condition is not problematic and causes no pain or symptoms. However, severe lordotic curvatures can cause health concerns and should be monitored by a qualified physician. In contrast, loss of lordotic curve can also be an issue, since the spine is subjected to abnormal stress.

lordosis

* Lordotic Pain

* Lordotic Curve Treatment

* Lumbar Lordotic Change

* Kyphosis

* Kyphosis Treatment

* Military Neck

* Straight Neck

* Straight Spine

* Straight Back

Normal Lordosis Condition

Normally, the lumbar and cervical spinal regions demonstrate a typical lordotic curve (convex in front and concave in the rear) In layman�s terms, this means that the closed side of the curve faces into the front of the body and the open side towards the rear. In hyper-lordotic patients, this curve is deeper than usual, changing the spinal anatomy. In a normal lordotic condition, shocks and stresses put upon the spine are evenly distributed, increasing the spinal strength and the ability to absorb trauma. Changes in the normal curvature will affect these anatomical abilities to a lesser or greater extent, depending on the degree of increased or decreased curvature.

What Causes Lordosis?

Many atypical lordotic curvatures are set in motion during the fetal development stage. This qualifies some cases of abnormal lordotic curvature as a congenital back pain condition. The most common reason for early irregular lordotic development is variations in the intervertebral disc height between the posterior and anterior sides. To simplify once again, this means that the front and back of the discs are not the same thickness. This causes the individual vertebrae to tip slightly and increases the normal spinal curvature.

In adult lordotic curvatures developed later in life, the chief causes are advanced spinal degeneration and arthritic changes. Back injury can also factor into this equation, since trauma can reshape the spine significantly. Finally, surgical spinal fusion can apply pressure to surrounding vertebral levels causing an increased or decreased lordotic effect.

Recommendation on Spinal Lordosis

Most cases of hyper-lordotic curvature are nothing to be concerned about. Mild to moderate lordotic change is not uncommon and most patients will never suffer any related pain or discomfort. Make sure to remember this if you are diagnosed with lordotic change by your doctor. The nocebo effect of this diagnosis can be strong and will often be a catalyst for psychosomatic symptoms to begin. Advanced lordotic change can be a health problem and should be monitored closely. Typical treatment involves spinal fusion, which in itself can be more of a problem than a solution. Talk to your doctor concerning all your options before agreeing to any one particular treatment modality.

YOUR BACK PAIN STORY
Share your own back pain story with the world by taking part in my interactive forum. Speak out now and make a difference!

Please subscribe to my FREE E-Zine,

The Cure Back Pain Forever Newsletter.

Lordosis to Back Pain Home 10/10/07 Revised 7/16/08